Historical collection of 70 years of the camping sector

Historical collection of the 70 years of the camping sector

Funding entity

Girona Camping Association

Period of execution

07/17/2023-06/29/2024

Budget

€17,250

Research team: Dr. Dolors Vidal (UdG, IP) and Dr. Saida Palou (ICRPC)

Institut Superior d’Estudis Turístics (INSETUR), Universitat de Girona

Description

The aim is to recognise the role of camping in the country's tourism development and to highlight its commitment to innovation, seasonality and the protection of the natural environment.

The first campsite in Catalonia, which is no longer active, opened in La Fosca, in Palamós. And, to that first experience, many more were added until today's offer with 353 companies in Catalonia, which total 266,000 accommodation places, generate 20 million overnight stays and have an economic impact of 2.5 billion euros.

Currently, the sector directly employs more than 16,000 people and the weight of international tourism in the sector is crucial since in Catalonia it represents more than 50% of overnight stays. The project to commemorate seventy years of campsites contributes to highlighting the cultural and natural heritage associated with campsites, showing them as essential elements in the tourist history of Catalonia; generating knowledge applicable to the tourism sector, offering management models that can be adopted by both private companies and public administrations; and inspiring sustainability and innovation strategies, helping to face the environmental and economic challenges of modern tourism.